Switch-actuating mechanism.



No. 790,846. PATENTED MAY 28, 1905. A. MATZ.

SWITCH AGTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1904.

fw X A If F' .11 f7 .[Zl f'l' .if WITIVZSSES g g NITED STATES Patented May 23, 1905.

PATENT FFICE.

ADAM MATZ, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF TlVO-THIRDS TO GIDEON C. WILSON AND FREDERICK TUKE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SWlTCH-ACTUATING lVl ECHANISIVI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,846, dated May 23, 1905.

Application filed May 20, 1904. Serial No. 208,818.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM MATZ, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Actuating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, and in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 represents a top view of switchactuating mechanism; but the cover of the box containing the levers actuated from the car has been removed. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same mechanism after the car-actuated levers and the cover and the bottom of the receptacle in which they are contained have been removed. This view discloses the lever mechanism that more closely operates the switch attachment and is capable of locking the switch.

' This figure is on a larger scale than Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2 the right-hand rail has been omitted. Fig. 3 is a top view of the levers shown in Fig. 2, but in a different position. Fig. 4 represents a view wherein the switch and adjacent track and the cover of the box containing a shaft, cams, and reciprocating bar are shown in vertical central section, the remaining parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 5 is an isolated top View of the levers which are actuated by the tripping hook of the car. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the cams for operating the reciprocating bar of the switch. Fig. 7 'is a perspective view of the reciprocating bar operated by the device shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of the de- Vices for imparting resiliency to the switch mechanism. Fig. 9 represents,on a large scale, a perspective view of the means for making the switch-tongue work so hard as not to be thrown out of position by an oncoming car in cases where the locking mechanism of my invention is not in use. Fig. 10 represents in elevation, on a small scale, a street-car provided with my devices for actuating the switch mechanism of the track. Fig. 11 in perspective, and Figs. 12 and 13 in elevation, respectively represent the several parts of my mechanism aflixed to the car in Fig. 10 and adapted to actuate the switch mechanism of the track, these figures, 11, 12, and 13, being on a larger scale than Fig. 10.

I will now proceed to describe my invention in detail.

A indicates the switch; B, the switch-tongue, pivoted by the bolt B to the switch-plate C. On one side of the tongue is the rail X, belonging to onetrack. The tongue B and its continuation Y constitute the other side of the divergent track.

The mechanism for enabling one to operate from the car coming in the direction of the arrow W the switch-tongue B is substantially as follows: The tongue B is pivotally connected by a bolt D to a reciprocatory tongue-plateE. This plate slides between guides, and these are preferably the divisions of the switch-plate C. This plate also slides beneath those parts of the switch-plate indicated by X and Z. At or near one end it is pivoted by a bolt F to the carrier G, provided with a spring H. There is a shaft I capable of reciprocating in the direction of its length. The shaftis so connected to the carrier and to the spring that as it reciprocates it shall when going in one direction compress the spring H and force the tongueplate E, with tongue B, in one direction and when moved in the opposite direction it shall compress the spring and force the tongueplate E and tongue B in the other direction. The preferred construction for this purpose consists as follows: The carrier G has a bottom and also preferably a top. It has ends connected rigidly together by the said bottom and top. Within this carrier is the coiled spring H, preferably embracing the shaft I. On the shaft are the studs I I The shaft slides loosely. through openings G in the carrier, except so far as prevented by the studs in con unction with the spring H, and these openings G serve as guides for this shaft-I.-

One end of this shaft I is pivotally connected by a bolt I to the reciprocating bar J at J of the arm J of said bar. Another arm, J of this bar is duly pivoted at J to the framework of the bed, fixed in or to the ground. This reciprocating bar is operable by a cam device K, consisting of the cam K and the hook-cam K both fixed on the shaft K*. This shaft K is duly journaled in the frame-plate L, as indicated in Fig. 4:. The preferred means employed for operating the shaft K are the levers M. In practice these levers M are covered over by shield or guard plates N N, except where a slot P is present in said plate.

The preferred devices carried by the car for operating the levers M are as follows: I provide a hook-piece R, having ahook R and an eye R and this hook-piece is pivotally connected at S to the hinge-piece S, suitably affixed to the car. A device for moving the hook consists as follows: A treadle T, whose top is within reach of the motorman, (see Fig. 10,) carries a spring T based upon a part of the car. The lower end of the treadle-rod extends down and is pivotally connected at T to a sleeve R or equivalent connection fixed on hook-piece R.

The mode in which my invention operates is as follows: The switch is to be operated, if at all, when the car is coming toward the switch in the direction in which the arrow W points. Should the tongue be in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the motorman (car-driver) desire to change the switch, he depresses the hook-piece R. The latter enters the slot P, and as the car moves the hook engages the adjacent lever M and moves this lever forward and moves the reciprocating bar J into the position shown in Fig. 3. In this movement of this bar J the cams thereof operate to draw the point of the tongue of the switch over to the right-hand sidenamely, toward the track Z. The same operation is performed when the switch is to be returned to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These operations are duly repeated as the road is operated and the switch is to be changed. The entire operation of changing the switch is thus conveniently carried on from the car. Should it be desired to so disconnect the switch from this operating mechanism as to render it capable of being turned by an ordinary handbar inserted between the tongue and the adjacent rail, this can be done by turning the levers M so that they bring the reciprocating bar into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. In order, then, to prevent the tongue after being moved to place from rebounding by reason of a car-wheel striking the heel of the tongue, I supply the following mechanism, to wit: the spring V, mounted on a bolt V A nut V below on bolt V operates when screwed forward to compress the spring and draw the tongue closer to the plate E. This approximation causes the tongue to press harder on the plate (3, and thus be more greatly frictionized. Thisincreased friction prevents the tongue from too easily sliding over the plate (J. Such friction may at times be desired when my invention for moving the switch is in use. It is always desirable that the tongue shall be held elastically down when the tongue is set.

The spring H contributes when moved by the rod (shaft 1) to elastically change the switch to its full throw and retain it in a locked position until the shaft I is reciprocated in the opposite direction.

Other advantages of my invention are obvious upon an inspection of the same and a comparison of the same with the previous state of the art.

What I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is

1. The combination of the switch and the plate E, spring in carrier pivoted thereto, shaft I, for operating on the spring, reciprocating bar pivoted at J to the shaft I, cams K K mounted on a shaft K, levers M mounted on the same shaft, adapted to be moved. substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination of the switch and the plate E, spring in carrier pivoted thereto, shaft I, for operating on the spring, reciprocating bar pivoted at J to the shaft I, cams K K", mounted on a shaft K, levers M mounted on the same shaft, adapted to be moved, and the hook-piece R, treadle and spring for elastically retracting the hook, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination of the switch and the plate E, spring in carrier pivoted thereto, shaft I, for operating on the spring, reciprocating bar pivoted at J to the shaft I, cams K K mounted on a shaft K, and means for operating the cams, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4:. The combination of the switch and the plate E, spring in carrier pivoted thereto, shaft I, for operating on the spring, and levers M and means intermediate between said levers and the spring and shaft I for enabling the levers to reciprocate the shaft and spring, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a switch having a plate E and means for enabling it to be moved by the reciprocation of said plate, the spring mounted on the pivot-bolt connecting the tongue to the plate, and means for compressing and relieving the said spring, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a switch, a principal foundation-surface A, on which the switch-tongueBcan rest, a plate E located beneath the switch, the vertical rod connecting this plate to the switchtongue, and means connected with this rod for elastically drawing the switch-tongue B down upon the surface A, and causing this tongue B to press upon this surface, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In a switch, a principal foundation-surface A, on which the switch-tongue B can rest, a plate E located beneath the switch, the vertical rod connecting this plate to the switchtongue, and means connected. with this rod for elastically drawing the switch-tongue B IIO down upon the surface A, and causing this tongueB to press upon this surface, and means for varying the pressure exerted, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. In a switch, a principal foundation-surface A, on which the switch-tongue B can rest, a plate E located beneath the switch, the vertical rod connecting this plate to the switchtongue, and means connected with this rod for elastically drawing the switch-tongue B down upon the surface A, and causing this tongueB to press upon this surface, and means for reciprocating the plate E, and through it the switch-tongue B, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. In a switch, a principal foundation-surface A, on which the switch-tongue B can rest, a plate E located beneath the switch, the vertical rod connecting this plate to the switchtongue, and means connected with this rod for elastically drawing the switch-tongue B down upon the surface A, and causing this tongue B to press upon this surface, and means for varying the pressure exerted by said spring, and means for reciprocating the plate E, and through it the switch-tongue B, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

10. In a switch, a principal foundation-surface A, on which the switch-tongue B can rest, a plate E located between the forward and rear portions of the surface A, and the vertical rod connecting this plate to the switchtongue, and means connected with this rod for elastically drawing the switch-tongue B down upon the surface A, and causing this tongue B to press upon this surface, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

11. In a switch, a principal foundation-surface A, on which the switch-tongue B can rest,

a plate E combined with the switch, the vertical rod connecting this plate to the switchtongue, the spring embracing said rod, and means for compressing and relieving the said spring, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

12. In a switch, a principal foundation-surface A, on which the switch-tongue B can rest, a plate E combined with the switch, the vertical rod connecting this plate to the switchtongue, the spring embracing said rod, and a nut on the lower end of this rod for increasing and diminishing the pressure of the spring, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

13. In a switch, the tongue, a plate for supporting it, a piece E connected to the tongue, a spring for keeping the tongue pressed close upon the supporting-plate, and a nut and bolt, for increasing the friction of the tongue upon the plate, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

14. In a switch, the tongue, a plate for supporting it, a piece E connected to the tongue, a spring for keeping the tongue pressed close upon the supporting-plate, and means for increasing the friction of the tongue upon the plate, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ADAM MATZ. Attest:

WM. J. RIELLY, K. SMITH. 

